Global Epilepsy
BAND champions efforts to narrow the dramatic epilepsy treatment gap in low-resource settings, especially in Africa. We invest in targeted initiatives that demonstrate how epilepsy care can be integrated into public health systems and support advocates to advance awareness and education.
Project: Enhancing Epilepsy Care in Africa
Grantee: Amref Health
Summary:The BAND Foundation, with support from the UCB Innovation for Health Equity Fund, is partnering with Amref on a project to enhance epilepsy care in Tanzania. This pilot project focuses on reducing the stigma, impact, and burden of epilepsy, while improving the quality of life for individuals with these conditions, their caregivers, and families. The 3-year project involves collaboration with the Tanzania Epilepsy Association, Parents Organization for Children with Epilepsy in Tanzania, National Institute for Medical Research and the Ministry of Health. By leveraging existing community health structures, the initiative aims to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and provide equitable access to diagnosis, treatment, and support services within a primary healthcare framework. The project’s holistic and sustainable approach to epilepsy care will serve as a scalable model for replication across other regions.
Project: The Centre for Global Epilepsy
Grantee: Wolfson College, Oxford
Summary: The Centre for Global Epilepsy will collaborate with key research institutions and epilepsy clinics worldwide, linking expertise from high-income settings with those in less resourced environments to drive advancements in epilepsy research, diagnosis, treatment, and care. The centre’s mission is to enable global epilepsy learning, offer immersive research opportunities in Oxford and serve as the multidisciplinary global epilepsy hub to facilitate bidirectional knowledge transfer. It will empower researchers and advocates, especially in Africa, and inspire clinical trainees and clinicians to transform epilepsy care across the world.
Project: Making Epilepsy a National Priority in African Countries
Grantee: International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE)
Summary: More than 10 million people in Africa have epilepsy, yet at least 80% do not receive effective treatment. While epilepsy can be a devastating and chronic condition, with basic and affordable medication, more than 70% of people living epilepsy could have seizure control. However, in much of Africa, epilepsy is misunderstood, stigmatized, underfunded and ignored by the health care system. This project, through technical assistance and small grants, aims to strengthen the advocacy capacity of African IBE chapters to advance effort to improve epilepsy care at all levels of society.
Project: Pediatric Epilepsy Training (PET) in Zambia and Zimbabwe
Grantee: British Pediatric Neurology Association (BPNA)
Summary: In sub-Saharan Africa, there is approximately one neurologist for every 10 million people and even fewer neurologists specializing in the care of children. With so few specialists, it is vital that other healthcare professionals receive training in epilepsy care. The British Pediatric Neurology Association has developed a unique and internationally endorsed Pediatric Epilepsy Training (PET) program to train neurologists, pediatricians and other healthcare workers to recognize and treat epilepsy. The BAND Foundation, via ROW Foundation, supported the May 2023 launch of PET for health professionals from Zambia and Zimbabwe. A total of 27 new faculty members, half from Zambia and half from Zimbabwe, delivered two PET1 courses to 49 delegates from the respective countries. A fuller report can be accessed here.
Project: Improving Access to Epilepsy Care in Ethiopia
Grantee: Children’s National Hospital
Summary: Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in Africa with very limited access to epilepsy care. In order to improve care and to increase access to epilepsy treatment, this project will train non-specialist health providers and bring services closer to where people live. This project will use a task-shift model of training non-specialist health providers to diagnose, treat and follow people with epilepsy in the primary care setting. This partnership between CNMC and Yekatit Hospital Medical College in Addis Ababa seeks to develop a cost-effective, sustainable and scalable model to improve access to epilepsy care in low-income countries.
Project: Improved Community-level Care for Rwandan Children with Epilepsy
Grantee: ROW Foundation
Summary: The BAND & ROW Foundations are partnering to expand and improve epilepsy care at the village level in Rwanda, including reducing harmful stigma, identifying children in need, and connecting parents and caregivers with treatment options. The project will focus on training community health workers and mobilizing community leaders to increase understanding of epilepsy and to improve disease management and access to care. The Ministry of Health will be engaged to evaluate impact and plan possible expansion to other parts of the country.
Resources
Research and toolkits supported by the BAND Foundation:
IBE
Advocate’s Toolkit for Reducing Stigma in Africa
Advocate’s Toolkit for Making Epilepsy a Priority in Africa
Nature Conservation. Epilepsy Care.
